From “Strengthening the Call of Christian Education” to getting the latest information on per capita, attendees at the Mid Council Leaders Gathering in Baltimore had a lot of opportunities to connect with different aspects of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Saturday.

“The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.” On Sunday mornings in congregations across the country, hands are shaken, and the words of Christ’s peace are exchanged with one another. Yet what does it mean to pass the peace of Christ into a world that is often anxious?

Think about the first and last words of Scripture. The book of Genesis opens with “In the beginning …” (Gen. 1:1). And the book of Revelation closes with “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20), followed only by a postscript extending Christ’s grace to all the saints. The season of Advent brings together both ends of the Bible.

Seeing people happy around the table makes me think that something good is happening among them. But seeing people laughing, smiling, talking to each other — and even dancing — around food makes me realize how important the time of fellowship is at the church dinners we share.

The Co-Moderators of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) believe it’s time to take a deep dive into training commissioned pastors. Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann have announced a new training conference to be held next spring.

Members of the 2020 Vision Team gave mid council leaders an opportunity to share their input on the development of a Guiding Statement this week. Team Co-Moderators Sabrina Slater and Salvador Gavalda were joined by teammates Jerrod Lowry and Debbie Foster during an interactive workshop at the Mid Council Leaders Gathering in Baltimore on Friday afternoon.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of the General Assembly has announced that Ruling Elder Julia Henderson has been appointed interim director of assembly operations, effective November 4. Henderson is stepping into a vacancy created by Tom Hay’s recent departure. Hay retired last month after 11 years in the position.

Meeting in Baltimore, the Moving Forward Implementation Commission voted this week to convene the leadership of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Office of the General Assembly and the A Corporation for what it called “an honest and open examination” of the 2021-22 budget “in order to establish a unified approach and plan for budgeting for the upcoming cycle.”

Anyone who has taken part in a whitewater rafting trip knows there are times where you can relax and other times when you have to navigate some very rough water. That’s the analogy leaders in the Office of the General Assembly used in their discussion on day one of the Mid Council Leaders Gathering in Baltimore.

Hundreds of presbytery and synod executives and stated clerks have gathered in Baltimore this weekend for the annual Mid Council Leaders Gathering. The event, co-sponsored by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of the General Assembly and the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA), brings the leaders together for three days of worship, plenaries, and workshops.